Our greenlines electric network is a group of routes which are being developed to provide wider area movements across the Leicester region.

All of these bus routes have the following features to help radically transform the services:

  • Fully electric buses for cleaner, healthier air quality, helping us to move towards a net zero City.

  • On-board passenger information displays to keep you better informed and improve accessibility.

  • Next stop audio-visual announcements helping to make travel more accessible.

  • USB charging points so you can charge your phone and laptop whilst on the move.

  • New bus shelters so you can wait for your bus in comfort.

  • Real-time information displays at all main bus stops and interchanges to help you plan your journey better.

  • Text-to-speech facilities and raised kerbs at bus stops to make travel more accessible.

  • Mapping and printed information at all bus stops to improve accessibility and interchange.

  • Tap on tap off contactless ticketing with post-pay fare capping across all services to give the best value for the travel undertaken.

  • Bus priority measures fully enforced bus lanes and signal priority for late running buses to improve reliability and reduce journey times.

  • Park and ride facilities to increase connectivity over a wider area.

All services in the Greenlines network have been upgraded and re-launched as of April 2023. The 103, 203 and 303 Park & Ride services were launched in May 2021. The Hospital Hopper was launched in June 2022 and the Circleline was rebranded as the Orbital service in October 2022. The Hop! is our new free City Centre service which launched in April 2023.

Progress so far

The aim is for all Greenlines to have a 15-minute daytime frequency or better and be operated with at least 40 electric buses by 2025.

Stage One - Completed!

We have now completed the first stage of this project:

Each Greenline now has:

  • electric buses - 24 electric buses from 2 new charging depots

  • on-board next stop announcement and displays

  • contactless ticketing with ‘best fare’ capping

  • real time information totems at key boarding stops

  • new bus shelters

The new City Centre Hop! free electric service is now up and running and regularly taking over 1,000 passengers per day.

We have new bus priority on Hospital Hopper Greenline and significant priority on Abbey Lane for the Birstall Park & Ride Greenline planned this year.

Stage Two - Awaiting Funding

We are currently seeking funding for the next stage of the project:

  • The Orbital service and Hospital Hopper Greenlines to be increased to every 15 minutes

  • Significant bus priority on the Orbital Greenline

  • To link up the Birstall or Meynell’s Gorse with Enderby P&R Greenlines to provide cross-city connectivity, particularly to the Royal Infirmary

  • 16 additional electric buses for the frequency increase

This will help transform these services and create a network of electric, frequent, reliable, easy to use and great value Greenlines, meeting the Leicester Buses Partnership vision